Pneumatic hair curler



March 22, W38. A. P. CUNNYNGHAM PNEUMATIC HAIR .CURLER Filed Jan. 5, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR I.rlldalldllldllllll'lrt' March 22, 1938. A. P. CUNNYNGHAM 2,

PNEUMATIC HAIR CURLER Filed Jan. 5, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 22, 1938 PNEUMATIC HAIR CURLER Application January 5, 1934, Serial No. 705,429

12 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in hair curlers, and one of its objects is to provide a device which can be worn'at night by the met,

and which will not press into the head or harm the user in any way, and which will form the hair into an attractive curl, without subjecting the hair to breaking strains or stresses.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a curler for hair, which is constructed with an air filled forming bar, providing a cushioning surface upon which the hair is wrapped, and further provided with a'resilient ru oer pressure bar and with an elastic rubber'tensioning strap, for maintaining pressure upon the hair wound upon the'forming bar.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a hair curler having a pneumatic forming bar and an adjustable elastic strap for holding the hair wound on the bar under pressure.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character, in which the various parts are permanentlyco'nnected to each other by vulcanizing or cementing, so that the finished product will be comfortable, durable and serviceable. V

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in certain new-and useful constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, clearly described in the specification following, and fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:-- V

Fig. 1 is a View showing the improved curler as it would be worn in actual use.

35 Fig. 2 is: a View in perspective, showingthe forming bar, compressor member and elastic pressure strap separated from each othento" receive the hair. i

Fig. 3 is a side view of the device, showing the elastic strap over the end of the forming bar, to

retain the compressor member in hair forming position. 7 V

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof, with portions of the elastic strap and compressor member removed;

Fig. 5 is a similar view of a modified form.

Fig. 6 is a side view, partly broken away, and partly in longitudinal section of another modified form.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the elastic strap'removed. g r

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional View, taken on line B-8 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows, on an enlarged scale. I

Fig. 9 is a side elevation, partly in longitudinal section of a modified form.

Fig. 10 is a detail plan view of the pressure strap thereof.

Fig. 11 is a side elevation, partly in longitudinal -5 section of the compressor bar.

Fig. 12 is a detail cross sectional view, taken on line |2--l2 of Fig. 9, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 13 is a side elevation, partly in longitudinal 10 section, of another modified form.

Fig. 14 is a plan view thereof.

Fig. 15 is a plan view of another modified form.

Fig. 16 is a detail side view thereof.

Fig. 17 is a vertical sectional view taken on 15 line i'i-l'i of Fig. 13 looking in the direction of the arrows. r

Fig. .18 is a plan view of the compressor member shown in Fig, 13, detached from the device.

Fig. 19 is a similar view of the compressor member shown in Fig. 15.

' Referring to the drawings 5 designates a tubular forming bar, which is preferably formed of soft, resilient, rubber, having one end closed by a soft rubber plug 6 and the other end closed by the soft rubber plug 1.

On one end of the tubular forming bar the tubular end 8 of the compressor member orbar 9 is mounted. This member or bar is formed of resilient rubber and the major portion of the '30 body thereof is formed U-shaped, so that it will fit snugly against the forming bar.

The rubber compressor bar or member is held in hair restraining position toward the pneumatic forming bar, by means of the pressure member Ill, which is in the form of an elastic rubber strap. This strap is formed with holding arms We. and lllb, which confront each other, and which are formed with terminal enlargements, indicated at H! and 1319'. These arms are extended through 40 small openings in the sides of the tubular end 8, and through the wall of the tubular forming bar 5, and securedin place, by cementing or vulcanizing, between the closure plug 1 and the wall of the forming bar 5.

The opposite end the pressure strap It is formed with a series of longitudinally spaced holes H, which are adapted to be independently engaged with the closure plug 6, which is shown to be slightly tapered for this purpose.

The hair is wound over the tubular forming bar 5, then the flexible rubber compressor me. her or bar is pressed against the wound hair, and then the pressure strap is stretched over the pointed end of the plug 6, by forcing one of the '5 perforations over the plug. By stretching the strap so that the second or third hole is aligned with the pointed end of the plug 3, increased pressure may be developed on the compressor bar.

In order to increase the stifiness of the device, Without increasing the resistance of the surface of the forming bar or tube, I may provide a flexible wire or other rod I2 to connect the end closure plugs 6 and i. This rod will permit bending of the forming bar or tube, to the head of the user, and will not diminish the yielding action of the surface of the tube.

Instead of using air for the forming tube or bar, I may use sponge rubber I 3, in the forming tube or bar l4, shown in Fig. 6. As sponge rubber consists of rubber in cellular form, with gas filling the small cells, this arrangement will also provide a pneumatic forming tube.

In order to reduce the resistance of the end closure plugs 6 and 1, they may be formed with air chambers 6a and la.

The improved hair curler is extremely light and will adapt itself to the profile or surface condition of the head of the wearer. Should the wearer while sleeping press heavily on any curler nothing will injure the head, as all parts of the curler are made of soft, resilient rubber, and neither the scalp nor the hair will be subject to abrasion or injury.

Should the hair be wound too tight on the forming bar or tube, the air within the forming bar or tube will be slightly compressed, thus increasing the pressure on the hair, so that a better curl will be formed, and without cutting or breaking the hair. The pneumatic core or forming tube, therefore, provides at the same time means for increasing the pressure required for satisfactory hair curling and means for preventing a crushing pressure for developing against the hair, either during the operation of winding the hair on the forming bar, or while the curler is being worn during sleep, and, of course, subject to the increased pressure resulting from the weight of the head of the wearer on the pillow.

Due to the fact that the curler can be bent in all directions, it will readily conform to the curvature of the hair, during sleep, and will shape the hair wound thereon accordingly. Due to the fact that the soft, resilient, rubber of which all parts of the curler are formed, the hair wound thereon or in contact with the curler on the head, will never be crushed, as the material of the curler will yield before sufiicient crushing pressure can be developed on the hair.

The curler will be made in colors to match hair of different shades, and will preferably be made with a smooth finish, so that it may be readily cleaned, and will have little frictional resistance to the hair.

In Figs. 9 to 12, inclusive, I show a modified construction of the hair curler, wherein the forming bar i6 is moulded with a tapered end ll, having an external shoulder 18, the inserted plug shown in the previously described construction being omitted. On the opposite end of the tubular forming bar It the resilient rubber cap I9 is vulcanized or cemented, and this cap is formed with integral, molded, trunnions or lugs 20 and 2!, located on the opposite sides thereof, and is cast or molded with an. integral compressor bar 22. The pressure member or strap 23 is formed with diverging connecting ears or members 2 1 and 25, each of which is formed with a small hole to receive one of the lugs of the cap l9. These ears are stretched over the lugs, which are button shaped, so that the strap 23 can swing on the lugs toward and away from the forming tube or bar.

In Figs. 13 and 14 I show another construction, wherein the pressure strap 26 is vulcanized directly to the end cap 21, which is molded with the compressor bar 28. The end cap being vulcanized or cemented directly on the end of the forming tube 29, the opposite end of which is formed with a tapered closed end 30, provided with an external bead or shoulder 3|.

In Figs. 15 and 16 I show another construction, wherein the pressure strap 32 is formed with a bifurcated inner end 33, thus providing side holding arms or ears 34 and 35, which are vulcanized or directly attached by cement to the sides of the cap 36, which is fitted directly on the forming tube 37, the opposite end of which is formed with a tapered closed end 38, having an external shoulder 39.

In all forms of the improved curler, the pressure strap is prevented from sliding on the end of the forming tube or bar, by its external shoulder, and due to the particular form of connection employed in all constructions, the pressure strap will closely hug the wound hair, so that pressure will be maintained upon all turns of the hair on the forming bar or tube.

The constructions shown in Figs. 9 to 16, inclusive, eliminates the use of the separate end plugs, employing caps which are moulded with the parts, thus reducing the cost of construction and improving the hair curler in general.

Having described my invention I claim as new:-

1. A hair curler having air filled forming bar sealedat both ends and a device for holding hair wound on the bar.

2. A hair curler having a pneumatic forming member sealed at both ends and means for pressing the hair against the forming member.

3. A hair curler having an air filled tubular forming bar closed at its ends and formed of resilient rubber and provided with means for pressing hair against said bar.

4. A hair curler having a tubular forming bar sealed to enclose air, a compressor member connected to the bar at one end thereof, and an elastic strap connected to one end of the bar and provided with means for connection with the other end of the bar.

5. A hair curler having a forming bar, a compressor bar of resilient rubber connected at one end to the forming bar and engaging the outside of the forming bar to compress hair thereon, and an elastic pressure producing strap having connection at one end with the forming bar and adapted to be stretched over the compressor bar and connected to the other end of the forming bar.

6. A hair curler having a forming bar, a compressor bar of resilient rubber connected to one end of the forming bar and engaging the outside of the forming bar to compress hair thereon, and an elastic pressure producing strap connected to one end of the forming bar and provided with means for adjustably connecting the opposite end thereof to the forming bar to increase or decrease the pressure against the forming bar.

'7. A hair curler having a resilient rubber air filled forming member, a resilient rubber compressor member having one end thereof permanently connected to the forming member, and an elastic strap permanently connected to the forming member and provided with a series of longitudinally spaced holes adapted to be successively looped over the opposite end of the forming bar, to vary the pressure of the compressor bar against hair wound on the forming member.

8. The combination set forth in claim 7, including a flexible rod connecting the ends of the forming member to each other.

9. The combination set forth in claim 7, the forming member having a core of resilient sponge rubber.

10. A hair curler having a tubular forming bar of resilient rubber and provided with a closed end having an external shoulder, a compressor member having a cap closing the other end of the forming bar, and a pressure device carried by the forming bar adapted to hold the compressor member toward the forming bar.

11. A hair curler having a tubular forming bar closed at one end and provided with an external shoulder, a compressor member having a cap closing the other end of the bar and provided with external trunnions, and a pressure strap having ears mounted to swing on the trunnions and provided with means for connection with the closed'end of the forming bar, the forming bar, compressor bar and cap, and pressure strap being formed of resilient soft rubber.

12. A hair curler consisting of a forming bar having one end pointed, an elastic hair compressing member connected with the forming bar, and an elastic tension member connected to the opposite end of the bar and provided with means for adjustably engaging the pointed end to vary the pressure of hair of said member against the forming bar.

ALICE PHYLLIS CUNNYNGI-IAM. 

